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GOP knocks public health care, Pelosi

From NBC's Luke RussertHouse GOP leader John Boehner says that any government component to health care is akin to "throwing the baby out with the bath water," because it would lead to the demise of all private insurance. He also thinks that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "can't have her cake and eat it too" on the interrogation issue.

At the Republicans leadership's weekly news conference following their caucus' meeting, Boehner addressed questions regarding health care and the recent controversy regarding Pelosi and her knowledge of CIA interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration.

Talking about health care, Boehner said that the president and the Democrats essentially want to push America toward a system similar to Canada's and Great Britain's, where patients have to wait longer for lower quality drugs and important health tests.

Boehner went on to say that 150 million Americans get their health insurance through their employer and "if the government competes with the private sector, it will crowd out private health insurance."

Translation: If the government gets involved in health insurance, it will severely cripple the private insurance industry.

"We have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water," Boehner added. Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) went on to say that millions would be driven into government-run health care, and America would end up with "socialized medicine."

Regarding Pelosi and the interrogation techniques, Boehner said that the country needs to know: "When did she know and what did she do about it? You can't have your cake and eat it too."

He then went on to say that many Democrats knew about the interrogation techniques and that some even "encouraged officials to go forward."

On the topic of a possible so-called "Truth Commission," which has been suggested by some in Congress to investigate possible torture charges, Boehner said, "At the end of the day Democrats won't go there, because they were briefed."